Having considered the two conditions necessary to being filled with the Spirit, viz., the cleansing of the heart, and the consecration of the cleansed heart to God, we come now to the very practical question—How is this Fullness to be obtained by the cleansed and consecrated believer? Before proceeding to consider the answer, "Claim it," let us notice what the Divine Word has to say about (1) prayer and (2) laying on of hands in connection with the obtaining.
1. Prayer.
"How much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" (Luke xi. 13.) This promise is given to God's children. It is the dearest wish of the great Father-heart of God that His children should be filled with His Spirit. Who has a fathoming line long enough to sound the depths of that "how much more"? You "ask;" Father "gives." What is the next step? Why, of course, you "receive!" else all Father's "giving" will be of no avail.
"When they had prayed … they were all filled with the Holy Ghost" (Acts iv. 31).
"Prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost" (Acts viii. 15).
"Tarry" (Luke xxiv. 49). "Wait" (Acts i. 4)—not idling, but praying, pleading the promise. "These all with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer" (Acts i. 14).
"They were all with one accord in one place, and suddenly" the answer came! (Acts ii. 1.) So in obtaining the blessing of the Fullness, prayer has its place.
2. Laying on of hands.
"Then laid they their hands on them and they (Samaritan converts) received the Holy Ghost" (Acts viii. 17).
"Then when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away" (Acts xiii. 3). Barnabas and Saul were men who were already full of the Holy Ghost, but by the laying on of hands (it is probable that hands had been laid on these men before this) they received a fresh anointing of the Holy Ghost, a fresh equipment for special service, and thus they were set apart for the work to which the Holy Ghost was calling them.